Contractor Sentenced for OSHA Violation Resulting in Employee's Death

Acting United States Attorney Robert S. Cessar announced today, June 24, 2010, that on June 23, 2010, Christopher Franc, d/b/a C.A. Franc Construction, a resident of Valencia, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court in Pittsburgh to three years’ probation, six months’ home detention, and payment of funeral expenses on his conviction of a willful violation of an OSHA regulation causing the death of an employee.

Chief United States District Judge Gary L. Lancaster imposed the sentence on Franc, age 44.

According to information presented to the court by Assistant United States Attorney Nelson P. Cohen, Franc willfully failed to utilize safety equipment required by OSHA regulations designed to protect employees working on steep roofs. As a result, one of Franc’s employees, identified as CB in the information, fell to his death on August 15, 2009, in Washington County, Pennsylvania.

Before imposing the sentence, Chief Judge Lancaster said that, “Although this was a terrible accident, there was no evidence of malicious intent, and Mr. Franc will have the rest of his life to contemplate his conduct.” The record also reflects that OSHA imposed an administrative fine upon Franc in the amount of $539,000.

Mr. Cessar commended the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Franc.